The Beauty of a Blackbird and What They Teach Us

Autumn in the Barn September 9-13
Tuesday, 10-5:30
Wednesday, 10-5:30
Thursday, 10-5:30
Friday, 10-5
Saturday, 10-3

I know you all are probably thinking that all I ever do on a Saturday is go antiquing. But at the risk of you thinking that, I wanted to tell you about our little antique trip that April and I took. Our finds were great. But our time together was even better.❤️

As we were leaving one of my favorite antique spots, I confessed to April that I had started loving a particular kind of bird this season. I know it peaked her curiosity, because she said what bird?

Knowing that many people are not fond of black birds, I had to come to the bird’s defense, and until the next day, I couldn’t figure out why I was so protective of that bird.

When I told her about my new bird love, she gasped and said,

“Why would you like blackbirds? They are scavengers.”

I told her, “ Well, shrimp are scavengers, but people love them.”

And she came back with, “Mom, they may love to eat them, but they don’t put them in flower arrangements.” 😂 She did have a good point; however, I think that the blackbird must have tweaked a memory in my mind that I had long forgotten.

I had walked out to my car after going to the grocery store, and from a distance I looked and I thought, “What is that on my car?” As I came closer, I realized it was a huge blackbird. My thought was that as I approached, it would scare him away. However, as I got to my car, he just stood there and looked at me like I had invaded his space. So I began to talk to him and tell him he needed to leave because I was going to drive off. Somehow, just talking to him made me feel like I had made a connection with him.

However, time must go on, and so I communicated to him that I was going to drive off, and if he wanted to ride on the roof, he could, but I didn’t think he would enjoy it very much. I might scare him.

I don’t know if or when he left my car, but I did think about him for a while. On the way to church the next day, I think I realized why I felt the connection to him.

When I was in high school, I was the kind of person who just wanted to be in the background and not cause problems. But one day in an English class, the teacher had previously divided our class up into groups, and we each had a project that we were to turn in. Our peers were going to grade them. Oh my! Even before the assignment began to develop, I felt defeated and humiliated. I was a nobody, and quite honestly, I wanted to keep it that way.

I had written a poem that included it in the project, and it had a couple of lines about a blackbird. It was a blackbird that me and a boyfriend had talked to at one time. I had made up a poem about it.

Trust me, I tried to stay out of everyone’s way and not cause any problem. So in the dreaded time that I was to go up before the class and present a piece of my work, I stood when the teacher called my name. The black bird poem was going to be my presentation.

My desk was surrounded by several football players seats and none had ever spoken a word to me, for which I was very grateful. However, as I walked to the front, some of them taunted me and whispered “Pig, pig, pig.”

I could never tell anyone about this instance because I was embarrassed as well as humiliated. So as they mocked my composition, I felt I could never go back into the classroom. Believe me, I did everything I could to stay out of the way of anyone, especially football players.

I do think that instance is one of the things that shaped my life, and why I’m so attracted to things that are out of the norm. I always gravitated to the underdog.

The sad part about this whole story is, I discovered that several years after my high school years, the football player that initiated the taunting, committed suicide.

God used that in my life to change my perspective on what true beauty is. While I would never ask for a situation like that, I did work through it and I think that’s why some of my art pieces look like they do. I know they’re a little out of the norm– sometimes good sometimes not so much. Yes, sometimes I’m a little weird. But, I don’t want to be bitter, but grow to be better.

From an artist in Greenwood Missouri antique store

So when you see my crows around the store, you’ll know that there’s a story behind them and why I smile when I see them.

No one’s immune from hurt and hardships. But know, that God never makes a mistake in what he gives us. He’s using it to shape us. And sometimes that’s not so great of a feeling but He will use it for good.

I really am excited about the autumn open house and hope that you’ll mark your calendars and enjoy a few crows around the place.😊 And who knows, you might start talking to crows too.

Autumn in the barn, September 9–13
Tuesday, 10-5:30
Wednesday, 10-5:30
Thursday, 10-5:30
Friday, 10-5
Saturday, 10-3

Blessings,
Debbie